GOLD COAST, Australia -- Former University of Michigan men's swimmers Connor Jaeger (2011-14) and Tyler Clary (2008-10) each won medals on Thursday (Aug. 21) during the first day of the Pan Pacific Championships, held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. Jaeger captured gold in the 1,500-meter freestyle (14:51.79), while Clary won bronze in the 200-meter butterfly (1:55.42).

"At the 600-meter mark, I thought that maybe I could win the race," Jaeger told USA Swimming following the race. "Probably around the 1,000, I thought, 'Nevermind!' It wasn't going to be that easy. And then with the 200 to go, I was going to make a push for it. I thought I was winning at some point and then you get that little burst of adrenaline with that. I just tried to crank home."

It is Jaeger's first gold medal in an international competition and second medal overall, following a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2013 FINA World Championships. He out-touched defending champion Ryan Cochrane (Canada) by 0.18 seconds to win the race. With the victory, Jaeger has cemented his spot on Team USA for the 2015 FINA Long Course World Championships, taking place next summer in Kazan, Russia.

Clary claimed his bronze medal in the 200-meter butterfly after finishing behind Daiya Seto (Japan) and Leonardo de Deus (Brazil). He will swim three more events for Team USA (400-meter IM, 200-meter Backstroke, 200-meter IM).

Another former Michigan swimmer, Sean Ryan (2011-14), was also in the 1,500-meter freestyle with Jaeger, finishing eighth (15:03.82). Ryan was named to Team USA to swim the 10K Open Water race on Monday (Aug. 25).